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Occurrence of nitrification in chloraminated distribution systems
Author(s) -
Wilczak Andrzej,
Jacangelo Joseph G.,
Marcinko Joseph P.,
Odell Lee H.,
Kirmeyer Gregory J.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.1996.tb06586.x
Subject(s) - nitrification , chloramine , nitrate , water quality , nitrite , environmental science , environmental engineering , environmental chemistry , chemistry , ecology , biology , nitrogen , organic chemistry , chlorine
Data from US distribution systems that chloraminate are evaluated as predictors of nitrification. Utilities in the United States that chloraminate were surveyed to evaluate the incidence of nitrification in distribution systems and determine whether nitrification can be predicted from basic system and water quality data. An estimated two thirds of medium and large US systems that chloraminate experience nitrification to some degree. About every fourth surveyed utility reported moderate to severe nitrification problems. In addition, every fourth utility did not know the extent of nitrification in its system. The incidence of nitrification was more frequent during summer or when the temperature was greater than 15°C (59°F); nevertheless, several sites sampled under cold water conditions—i.e., below 10°C (50°F)—also evidenced nitrification. No one water quality parameter by itself may be a good indicator of nitrification, but several important factors should be evaluated collectively—nitrite, nitrate, chloramine dosage and residual, ammonia, pH, heterotrophic bacterial counts, and dissolved oxygen.